There was a loud bang. Link woke with a start, but was pulled down. A muffled giggle and tapping, moving away footsteps followed. He felt the warm, silky skin, a tender hand gliding through his hair as his head was calmingly pushed back to its former position. The other arm was guardingly laid around his shoulders. He was overcome with tiredness and he cuddled with his right cheek to Kafei’s chest, where he listend to his heartbeat.
“Good morning.”, his whisper crept through Link’s body. “Slept well?”, all he got out was a mumble. „Of course. Otherwise you’d have woken up an hour ago already or so. Don’t bother the noise. That’s Tatl. She tries to wake us with Deku Nuts. Does that often. And? How was your night?“
“Divine.”, murmured Link.
“Good. Then I’m not alone with my luck. How does one feel as a brand new adult?”
“Don’t ask for things you know.”, Link giggled Kafei’s standard sentence. “I don’t know – good. Tired. I assume, you’ve never done that in this way before?”
“No. Was I very tight?”
“I can’t really assess. It just felt gigantically good.”
“I totally agree.”, smiled Kafei. “Though sitting might be impossible for me today.”
“Did I hurt you?”, Link slightly raised his head but was stroked back.
“No. I just still feel you. I guess, that’s normal.”
“Any idea what time it is?”, it was still quite dark.
“No. It’s cloudy. I just hope there’s no rain today. But people need a good sleep anyway. The celebrations and events normally take place in the evenings and nights. Only the last night is celebrated through. But here and there it can happen that some artist and even guests start the strangest actions. Then entire parts of the town become a stage. At the Carnival it doesn’t matter how crazy one is. Nobody is judged during that time. We’re all equal. At least that’s the main idea behind. Most people stick to it. Cursing is for after the Carnival. I think this attitude should last for the whole year. But that’s a dream that might never come true.”
“Apropos – except Ydin nobody knew about your orientation before your little show, right?”
“Almost. Father, Rim and Anju also know a long time already that I’m focused on – both sides. However, except some games there’s never really happened something on the homogeneous side.”
“Games?”
“Something like at Great Bay and other experiments. Nosy, pubertal roosters don’t find the right admireress, so they have to get their fun from somewhere else. During such a thing I’ve considered for the first time that there’s something else than Anju. But I always liked to wear dresses. Already as a child.”
“How does one get to such friends that are interested in this kind of games?”
“Nosy, are you?”, laughed Kafei.
“No. Was just a question.”, smirked Link. “Was Rim also involved?”
“You – got it. We were a nice group of five. Rim had also been able to flee from Majora. We’ve taken him in. Before this I never wanted to have anything to do with him. He’s always been very strange and violent. I managed to tame him more or less. But as you’ve seen, not completely. Usually he restrains himself and can even be – sorry for saying this – really tender.”
“You don’t need to apologise. I assume, that was before my birth or at least I’ve still been a little child? Besides, I’ve asked. So I put up with such detailed answers.”
“Thank you.”, Kafei gave him a kiss on the forehead. “You’re right. With time we’ve managed to win three more loonies for us. Almost every day we did something together. For years. To your question, we all were still quite young. Not much younger than you though, but still. Just old enough to notice that there are parts of a body that react on certain things in a certain way. If you can be so open and unashamed among each other, you start trying things. With some circles of friends it was the alcohol. We were at least partly above it. One day the glorious idea to make a card game struck us. Extremely weird stuff with strict rules. Already the brainstorming was mind blowing. I don’t need to explain the game to you, do I?”
“Only if it’s not embarrassing for you.”
“Nothing is embarrassing for me in your presence. I just don’t want to hurt you in any way.”
“Then I ask for it.”
“Alright. So – there are various kinds of cards. Active and passive ones. The active ones are mostly better than the passive ones, as the game’s generally about not coming. So who’s getting an orgasm first, loses. That goes on like this, until the first loser has to release the winner from his pain.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes. You sit down on the floor in a circle, the cards are being mixed and put on a pile in the middle and a volunteer begins. Some cards are about dressing or undressing. Therefore it’s important that each wears exactly two pieces of clothing up and down. Sometimes you need to undress yourself, sometimes another or you must let yourself be undressed by someone. These are actually the only cards by wich you need to do something on yourself. All other cards all are for right or left neighbour.”
“Other cards, yes. I mean, it could rather get a little annoying after some time otherwise, couldn’t it?”
“Probably. So, the rest of the cards are already a bit more intense – the so called Touching Cards. To them I have to say that they are only valid if the relevant part of the body isn’t dressed. If it is, lucky you. The card goes under the pile as if the action was done. In addition there’s a six eyed dice that tells the time for the action. Therefore one action last six seconds at maximum. The one who pulled the card, throws. I don’t really want to go more into the Toughing Cards. But maybe you can imagine which weird things are among them.”
“Quite, yes. Are there any don’ts?”
“Well, everyone can decide for himself how arousing the touching’s done. The only ban is on pain. You shouldn’t harm the players but let them lose, right?”
“And you lot really played this?”, chuckled Link.
“Yes. I let the others lose miserably many times.”
“I can totally comprehend. At least I know now where you got your practise from.”
“Exactly.”, chuckled Kafei.
“Does the thing still exist?”
“You little pervert.”, Link received a clap on his head. “Maybe. I don’t know. Should be still somewhere between my old stuff. You’re really in the need?”
“Now. That was mere interest. Only, that I know what’s going on if someone should find it and asks you on it encoded. I have to defend your pubertal fantasies, don’t I?”
“That’s nice of you. My father knows of its former existence but not whether it still exists. If Anju finds it, she won’t have a problem with it, I think. I just have reservations in case my children should come across it. They are told about the facts of life, but not that much. After what I’ve noticed, they don’t mind that I’m together with you next to their mother. But I’m not so sure how they’d react on other things.”
“A different topic.”, Link slightly raised and kissed Kafei. “Do I have a bad breath?”
“Wha- ? No.”, laughed the latter.
“Fine. No. What I wanted to say – would you mind paying back?”
“You – you really – mean that?”, Link nodded. “Already?”
“Do I look as if I was joking?”, smiled Link.
“No. Only – are you sure?”, Link nodded again. “Hm. I don’t know – we’re not alone anymore for sure. And if Tatl comes back – ”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”, he limply rolled onto his back.
“Besides, we have to put back the salad oil. Anidja will notice that there’s something missing anyway. And if there’s even more missing, I might risk my momentarily good reputation. Yes, I don’t care. But kissing is one thing, you know? I have no idea how she behaves on other things. I’m sorry.”
“Then I suggest we spare out the oil.”
“That’s a wonderful idea.”, murmured Kafei. “I didn’t know that you’re so masochistic. I’d say, we at least wait until afternoon. Market’s also during the Carnival. We’ll simply buy another bottle behind the scenes. In the meantime – ”, he turned to Link and licked him over the side of his neck, “We could get ourselves a different starter to the breakfast.”
“Approved.”, grinned Link.
~o~0~O~0~o~
“What by all means have you been doing?”, were Zelda’s first words when Link entered the dining room. „Kafei is silent as a grave and remains impassive.“, he did smirk into his plate though, as Link shortly saw. “I have unlocked but I could not get in. I had to share the marriage bed with Anju.”
Link got himself an overall picture of the situation. As it was past nine already, they had the dining room for themselves. Present were Anju-Anila, Dotour, Esra, Cremia, Rim, Romani, Zelda and now also Kafei and he.
“Oh please.”, said Anju. “You act as if I raped you.”, Link was surprised by her comparison. “How was it?”
“How was what?”, he finally realised that Anidja and the kids weren’t at the table. “Oh that. Er – from where do you know – ”
“Oh come on. Yes, you too.”, she said to her husband. “I’m not blind. I know that you can make yourself invisible. And if the door of a cupboard is opened and closed with no obvious reason, the reason can only be invisible. I also know what you’ve put back in. So – how was it?”
“Link?”, moaned Kafei. “Do you mind getting me a cushion? I was right. I can’t wait on paying back.”
“Sadist.”, snarled Link and sat down next to Kafei who had already arranged a plate for him too.
“Now – I didn’t know that the effects don’t get along well with wooden benches.”
“I really don’t feel like going back upstairs. Not even for you. So sit down on my lap or shut up.”, giggled Link and Kafei took the offer with a quietly mumbled thanks.
“To your information,“, Kafei turned to his wife, “It itself was simply gigantically wonderful. But now, afterwards – you can see it.”
“It’s alright.”, smiled Anju when she saw his expression. “I won’t ask further.”
“What’s the topic?”, asked Romani.
“You don’t wanna know.”, grinned Rim briefly. “You scoundrel. You’ve actually told him?”
“Hey!”, spat Kafei. “This is private! Don’t you dare to read on!”
“It’s not that private here, to be honest. And – further or what was before?”
“Both.”
“Oh.”, his grin got broader, but Link could feel that Kafei didn’t see this as a joke.
“They’re still alive.”, mumbled Dotour to his breakfast.
“Father! Not you as well. And – thanks for the information. You’ve hidden them at least properly enough that the small ones won’t find them?”
“They’re in front of your nose.”
“Fine.”
“Does this mean what I think?”, asked Link and Kafei examined him briefly.
“Yes. Don’t you get the idea of rummaging for them.”, he followed the food that wandered around him into Link’s mouth, wishing his tongue was the food, what Link read from his longing look whereupon he shortly pressed a finger on the cold tip of his nose.
“What’s it about?”, asked Esra.
“Oh nothing.”, meant Rim shrugging.
“I reckon, it is about a lot of things we should not know.”, sighed Zelda. “As I can not change anything about it, you have my blessing.”
“Zelda. Please – ”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, Link. There is nothing you need to feel sorry for. I am sorry for having been blind. I should have noticed that it will not work. I do not want to force you to anything. It is more important to me that you are happy. I am not sure anyway, if it would have worked.”
Pure understanding laid in her eyes. Both men were very much surprised how consequent Zelda as well as Anju could forgive and accept. What Dotour said now though, was very dubious to them, especially to his son.
“You must know, Esra, Anju and I stand fully behind you. So if you need a quiet place and our guests aren’t interested in the Carnival, I’ll find a way to get them away for sure. We’ll throw Zelda to our friends in the second guest room, if none of you four has something against it?”, last he addressed Zelda, Romani, Cremia and Rim.
“Except if you can’t reconcile it with your conscience that you two are doing – in our – uhm – ”, meant Anju. “I’d find the thought – well – I’d better shut up now.”, she grinned.
“Who are you and what have you done to my wife?”, came it from Kafei.
“I’ve done nothing to her. I just decided to put down my mask again as well.”
“Yeah! Right! You’ve been like this before.”
“And about that thing – can it be that it’s the cards?”
“Anju!”, Kafei hissed.
“So it is.”, she giggled.
“Anju!”, he hissed more energetic when he noticed what she thought. “Delete that from your tainted brain, will you?”
“Oh let her.”, meant Link. “You can consider yourself lucky to have married someone like her. Though her sudden revelations are a bit peculiar to me as well.”
“And don’t say we are perverted.”, Anju said to Kafei. “Don’t get worked up or I’ll release it under your name.”
“Anju!”, came it from Kafei, Link, Rim and Dotour at once.
“Oh come on – I’d never dare to. I have enough to explain when those who haven’t seen it, find out what connects the two of you. I’m married to one of you idiots and need to justify for my understanding.”, yes, she’d given the critical point a name.
“That’s what I like to know.”, noticed Romani. “Why did you kiss each other? Does something like this happen, when one is drunk? And why do you talk so mysteriously?”
“Romani.”, said Cremia when she saw the expressions of the couple. “I am sorry. I’ve lied to you. I don’t think that any of them has drunken even just a bit, right?”, she got confirmation from both sides.
“But why then? What – ?”
“Help me, Giants.”, sighed Cremia. “Why have I raised my sister so conservative? How to do that gently now – ”
“Let me do it.”, suggested Rim.
“Are you sure?”
“Your sister doesn’t understand the world anymore.”
“Yes.”, conciliated said.
“Well.”, Rim took a deep breath. “You know what you feel for Link, don’t you?”, a silent nod. “Fine. Well – such feelings don’t always have to exist just between a girl and a boy or between man and woman. Also without the influence of alcohol. Two male beings can fall in love with each other as well as two female beings. And some have a weakness towards both genders. Do you understand?”, Romani seemed very confused. “No. You don’t understand this.”, sighed Rim. “It was worth a try though.”
“What now – Anju loves Kafei, but Kafei loves her and Link?”
“Exactly.”, Kafei confirmed softly.
“And you?”, she addressed Link. “You love Kafei too?”
“Yes.”
“But – then Kafei hasn’t kissed you yesterday because he pretended to be a woman? That wasn’t played? Nothing of it? Is this the reason why you don’t want to be together with me?”
“I guess it is.”, considered Link. “That’s pretty complicated. I don’t really get it myself yet. I think, back then, you know, I’ve just been too young and you totally in love. But now, as said, I really like you. But even if I didn’t feel anything for Kafei, we two couldn’t be together. You know what I mean?”, she slightly shook her head.
“Romani.”, this came from Zelda. “Your idea yesterday afternoon, I found it sweet somehow. But I am afraid that we can still share only the thought, not the person himself.”
“What?”, laughed Link and Zelda as well as Romani blushed a bit.
“Hey!”, spat Romani.
“You – ”, chuckled Kafei. “You really wanted to share my cucumber?”
“Oh yes – ”, Link threw in a bit unnoticed. “Did I mention yet that I’m sick of constantly being compared to green things, especially plants?”
“Yes.”, giggled Zelda. “Romani had suggested that we could share you. But, Romani.”, she addressed the girl again. “None of us will be able to get Link. He - well - ”
“Damn!”, murmured Link. “Is it so difficult to speak this word out loud? I’m gay, understand? Homosexual. I’m keen on guys. I realised this during the last days, after counting several signs together. It’s not your fault. It is mine. I just couldn’t.”
“Does this mean that you don’t want to have anything to do with girls?”
“Something like it.”
“But why did you pretend to be a woman if Link doesn’t love women at all?”, Kafei let himself sink into Link’s arms laughing.
“Because this is even more complicated than anything that was mentioned so far.”, said Dotour. “My son loves men as much as women and feels like being both.”
“Now, now, it’s not exactly like this.”, Kafei raised a finger. “I’m still more man than woman. I just like to wear makeup and dresses even more. But nevertheless I’m proud of being a man.”
“And lingerie.”, whispered Link subdued. “Ouch!”, Kafei had clutched his hand.
“Shut it, will you?”
“Ah! Now I know why you wouldn’t let me look for my blue panties for hours.”, giggled Anju. “So what about you couldn’t wait, huh? You were just embarrassed, that’s it.”
“Damn.”, laughed Link. “You really heard that?”
“Thanks.”, Kafei rolled his eyes. “But that was the only time.”
“And therefore I wasn’t allowed to look into your special chest either? Well? Which pretty things have you hidden in there? I’m sorry. I know. I’m going a bit too far now.”
“No. It’s alright.”, sighed Kafei. “Cremia tries to accept it, Romani still doesn’t understand it anyway, Mother only wants to know more about her stepson of whom she thought that she knows him,”, the latter nodded, “Rim and Father know my secrets which I still try to tell Link and Zelda doesn’t care about my strange habits. So you can speak openly about my intimate preferences.”
“Oh yes.”, burst Dotour. “Now that you say it, Alga-Extract.”, all eyes were widened on the ex-mayor who couldn’t keep a giggle. “Forget the Deku-stuff. No matter if nuts or seeds. It just tastes good in the salad. Alga-Extract lubricates much better and way more pleasant. Also benches aren’t that uncomfortable on the following day. Besides, it has a very interesting behaviour regarding friction.”, smirking, he avoided all eye contact.
“Oh!”, chuckled Kafei. “Thanks. I’d rather don’t ask how you happen to know this? But now I know that I’ve obviously got more from you than I thought. Any more youth secrets you want to reveal?“
“No. Except – it were painted stones. We weren’t as creative – but – a little less clean.”
“I think it’s enough of it.”, said Link, as he saw Romani’s questionable look and polished off his last bite.
“Yes. I think so too.”, Kafei agreed. “Father? Would you like to take on your old job? I’d like to have a free day. I know, it’s irresponsible but you must have withdrawal symptoms, seeing how intensely you’ve taken part in the preparations. I need to buy for the Inn and also – your tip. Then I’d want to show Link the Èthrienni.”
“I can buy for the Inn today.”, suggested Anju. “I know, I did last time already. But if Esra stands in for me?”
“I – er – yes. Why not?”, said shrugged.
“Fine. Then I can have a nice day with the girls. They need it now. And Rim? What are you going to do?”
“If you withdraw your sister from the Inn, I should adjust the reputation of the Sheikah and help your mother. I don’t need the Carnival anyway. The night was loud enough.”
“All right. Yes. Well – we’ll go together or what do we do?”
“I just change and brush my teeth.”, said Kafei.
“You don’t need to change. If it fits, you can keep it on.”, Link gave him a little kiss.
“Oh. That. Yes. It fits. Not even too long. Fascinating, isn’t it?”
“No. Because it’s a bit too short for me.”, Link laughed.
~o~0~O~0~o~
“I still don’t understand Anju.”, Link shook his head, when they had said goodbye to the ladies-circle. “How can she accept us? She’s your wife! Don’t you think too, that she’ll feel neglected somewhen?”
“Not really.”, said Kafei and Link, parted from several Rupees again, put the dark ornate bottle into his locket. “I only say, the night before you arrived. My highscore for now. Against all scienctifical proof.”
“Attention, attention. How many times?”
“Five times.”
“Whow!”, Link slid to halt and Kafei turned around to him giggling. “How many?”, Kafei just raised one finger of his right hand after another. “Can you do that again?”, the bluehead laughed heartly and kissed Link short but filled with tenderness, without losing his smile and regardless of the looks they received.
“Zelda says the truth. You’re simply just cute.”, Link smiled embarrassed. “Come. Time for a ride to Ikana.”
“What are these – what’s their name again?”
“Èthrienni.”
“Yes.”
“You’ll see. Besides, the clouds tear up. I hope they’re gone by the time we’re there.”
He took Link by the hand and ran giggling out of town with him. Just outside, he pushed him around the corner, pressed him lightly against the town wall and kissed him deep but sensual. Only several minutes later, he separated from him and did a melodic whistle. Link could call Epona faster with the melody. But maybe just because she was grazing in the Field and Kafei’s horse had to get to them from Ikana. And what a horse it was. A strong, impressive, black stallion. His fur shimmered divine in the light of the midday sun. The long mane whipped consistently in the wind. The horse wore neither saddle nor harness. Slowly it reduced its speed and danced around Kafei, as if they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.
“This is Ijaron. The King of all steeds of Ikana. My great-great-grandfather Hethriol’s horse. He lived all these years long in the Hinterlands. Wild without a master. They found him when life returned to Ikana. Nobody could tame him. He ran away from everyone. They couldn’t catch him in any way. I just wanted to take a look at him. This is probably one of the reasons why my opinion is accepted in Ikana by now. Ijaron recognised the heir of his faithful fellow.”
“Interesting. But I guess it’s generally a horse-thing? Epona doesn’t approve of people I don’t assure her she needn’t worry about.”
“Perhaps; my children and I are the only ones who he’ll let getting close. But I’m the only he allows to ride him. Hethriol was King once. Yes, I don’t only have blue hair. Igos was my great-granduncle. He and my mother, his grandniece, survived them all, at least until Majora came. Therefore Father still insists that I reunite and reign this Sheikah-pack. As my children are too young, I’m still the heir to the throne. That’s what Rim often forgets. That is why he wanted me to punish him for his madness. He’s my friend but sometimes he wakes up and thinks he has to be utterly devoted to me. I hope that explains a lot.”
“Er – yes. It does.”, Link scratched the back of his head and pulled himself onto Epona. “And how will you get up? Oh yes. The Clock Tower has no saddle either.“
“What?”, laughed Kafei. “You are one clever boy,”
He shook his head, laid his arms around Ijaron’s neck, swung his legs and nimbly pulled himself onto the back of the horse that had calmed. Link had never seen Kafei ride. But was there even one thing Kafei couldn’t do?
Epona had serious problems with keeping up. Frila was fast already but Ijaron was by far the fastest horse Link had ever seen. And there once Epona had been said to be the fastest horse. Kafei sat so calm. Either the stallion could hold his back even or Kafei went so wonderfully with its moves that he hardly got bumped up and down. Also across the fences Ijaron downright flew. He was truly a King among the steeds.
Kafei stopped to let Link catch up. When Epona came to halt, she whinnied loud and angrily. Ijaron just shook his mane. Link did understand what the horses had said to each other. Kafei however he didn’t understand.
“Na triminjar su shjannissa.”, he said to his horse. ”Hleka na tharmleka srinja.”
“What does it mean?”
“Don’t be such a show-off. She can’t do faster.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”, laughed Kafei.
“And what did you say to your father last night?”
“What was it again?”
“Something with aretja and also such a trimi-thing.”
“Oh that. Nish triminesku áretija?”
“Yeah! That was it.”
“`If it is so´. `Nish´ means `if´ and `trimina´ is the Word for `be´. `Esku´ is the ending for the third person singular, so `it´, `jar´ is the ending for the second person singular, said `you´. `Na´ stands for `no´, `not´, `nothing´ and their kind. `Hleka´ means `she´, also in endings. `Tharmu´ means `can´, `srin´ is `fast´ and `srinja´ well, the comparative form. Remains only – ah yes. `Su´ for `so´ and `shjannissa´ is the `show-off´.”
“Could you please write that down for me?”
“Maybe.”, laughed Kafei. “If I like to. But at the moment I don’t really want to seriously teach you Sheikjiarnjinjú.”
“Come again?”
“Sheikjiarnjinjú.”
“Damn! No Hylian will get that out!”
“You got it. The word order and creation of our language would be horror for you as well. So better let it be.”
“One more thing – what did you call him?”
“Er – yes.”, grinned Kafei embarrassed and turned red. “Remember this, if I should bug you. `Lekunim´ means as much as – uh – well – `arsehole´.“
“Oh.”, laughed Link. “That’s why. Yes. If my son would say this to me, I’d probably give him a clap around the ear. You really have an admirable father.”
“I know.”
“And he looks strange without his beard.”
“Oh yes. But that’ll grow faster than you can say Deku.”
“One question still.”
“Yes?”
“Doesn’t riding hurt you?”
“No. Ijaron is wonderfully calm and also not as hard as wood.”, sighed Kafei and lightly raised both arms.
Link didn’t believe his eyes. Instead of the rock path from out of the wall, strings of light streamed out of his palms and laid themselves to a path upwards. Kafei rode ahead. Just when they arrived above, the light vanished. It seemed that there really was nothing this man couldn’t do.
At a gentle trot they passed the ravine to the Canyon. Like two days ago, the river was meeting place of many people. Also where he once had to swing himself up and later Rim had built them a stone path, Kafei let light wander up. Some others lazily took advantage of this and followed them, a small group of children included, which frolicked between them in a way that Link feared they could scare Epona. The mare though, didn’t let herself be put off by them. Apparently the little Sheikah conveyed such secure vibes on the horse that it didn’t fear anything.
What the children hadn’t managed, did someone else who suddenly appeared in front of Link. Epona actually did shy, but Link could force her to the ground again. The Sheikah was obviously amused.
“Regained strength, Toru?”, Kafei addressed him.
“Yes. It goes.”
“Do you know that nobody’s assigned?”
“What? But Sirileij should – damn! Good that you say it. That’s the third time in a row that she’s not there for her shift. I don’t want to grass on her though, but if that goes one like this, she’ll get serious problems. See you.”
“Yes.”
“What did he want?”
“Only playing.”, giggled Kafei. “I said we’re peculiar, didn’t I?”
“What was it about?”
“Sirileij neglects her watch. What do I know what’s wrong with her. If Toru want’s to look after her, shall he. I don’t care. I don’t have a say on this. I’m glad that I may stay here without getting into trouble.”
Slightly depressed he increased the speed and rode in direction of the Well. Instead of rightwards to the Stone Towers, he turned left and stopped with his side to the rock face. He laid his hand on the nondescript stone. From it suddenly spread glowing light blue lines that reminded Link a lot of the patterns in the Stone Tower Temple. At their ends they even became like the flames which decorated the seams of the Ikana’n dressings. Exactly under Kafei’s hand they formed the Eye of the Sheikah, but of rectangular shapes he had never seen before that way. The lines vanished outwards and the area they had covered disappeared as a door into the grass. They rode thorough a torch-lit tunnel and found themselves in a light forest.
The path and the forest ascended. On the upper end of the forest the road turned to the right, but Kafei left the forest to the ascending meadow behind. In a slight right-hand bend they rode on up the bare hill. At the highest point they met with the road again and rode along its further course, which was more stony now. On the other side of the valley a fantastic, afforested, vast but not high hilly landscape with meadows and pasture in the hollows revealed itself to Link’s eyes. Behind it, high mountains rose into the sky. Far in the north, he could spot parts of the desert behind hills which got more and more bare. Hardly any clouds hung above the Hinterlands.
A few minutes down the rode, they already came to the first settlement. Here too the it was bustling with activity. The fields were being cultivated already, children played happily between the houses. As far as Link could see, they all had red eyes. Many had natural hair colours, others stuck out as much as Kafei did. Some inhabitants greeted Kafei friendly but eyed Link with doubt.
They had ridden on for an hour for sure until they came to the last of four villages in sum. It was only a small gathering of a handful of houses and laid very close to the mountains already. Shortly past the village, they crossed a bridge over a broad river. Instead of following the road to the left, Kafei lead Link rightwards to a small, enchanted seeming path into a forest. The forest path brought them into a ravine in which the same river roared. At first they rode along its bed, then went uphill. Soon the path disappeared between the rocks and the sounds of the river drifted into distance.
The overwhelming silence they broke with trivial small talk about this and that. Slowly Link got hungry and thirsty, but ignored it like so many times in his life. Another guessed hour after the river had gone out of sight, they turned around the last of uncountable bends. Now Link’s mouth really fell open.
Between the high rocks was a crystal clear lake. At its front end it was dammed up with light set wooden posts and boards, so the river wouldn’t plunge too fast into the ravine. They dammed up the water so properly that the lake laid as good as still. The path wound along the shore, which was unusually green on their side. Trees and shrubs grew at its edges, reached into the water. The shrubs were full of delicious seeming berries. Link directed his eyes upriver. Four gigantic waterfalls plunged down unhindered, only separated by rocks on top. The other side of the lake was steep too and occasional smaller waterfalls came out of niches, clearings and caves. The high standing sun threw a few rays through between the rocks. That scant direct light created several cut rainbows in the mist. Where possible, everything glistened.
Though of the scarce light and the cool water, it wasn’t cold as somewhere behind these mountains was the desert. Its winds carried the warm air aloft the mountains’ sides which weren’t high enough to cool it down completely before it fell into the valley basin. The two men dismounted and Link gazed around fascinated, unable to decide on which spots to look at in one and the same moment. Kafei went towards him and pulled him to his side.
“This, hintemna, are the Èthrienni. The Four Princesses and their court ladies.”
“Gigantic.”, aspirated Link.
“Yes, they are. Er – what did you just call me?”, Link’s strange instinct had suddenly distracted him.
“Hintemna?”
“Yes? What – does it mean?”
“My beautiful?”, giggled Kafei. “Or do you still want to make me believe you weren’t?”
“Er – no – it’s just – wait – ”
“If there’s something you want to know, spit it out.”
“That’s exactly what I’m just trying.”, Link ponderingly scratched the back of his head. “Could it be that the word `Hinterland´ – ”
“Is an adopted mix? Yes.”
“Oh! So it means nothing more than – `Beautiful Land´ or what?”
“Yes. The actual name reads `Hintechalemmad´, thus, `Beautiful Lands´. And it’s `Hinterlands´, if you forgot. But since it was – behind the rocks – for everyone in Termina, and the word is similar in sound as well, it just so happened. Oh come on – why can’t you free Epona from this thing already.”
“What? Oh – er – yes. Good idea. She’s been carrying this saddle for too long already.”
Epona was visibly happy about the release from the weight. What he saw then, he didn’t believe. Ijaron went down the quite flat bank, into the water until only the head loomed out and swam. By the moment Link had removed the harness, Epona followed splashing water, though she didn’t dare to go inside as far as the other did. Kafei came towards him again, a broad grin on his face and pulled him into the least touching kiss that seemed possible to Link. Nevertheless he liked the new method and went into Kafei’s game. Not much faster that one bound Link’s shirt open and pushed it over his head from below. Link helped Kafei with the clothing he had worn on the first day and now had lent to him, as he would have had to go to breakfast in the dress or naked. Though both had liked to consider the alternatives, it would still had been a bit strange, especially if there had been more people present.
The less they wore, the closer they were. However, they were interrupted when the horses left the water and shook it off. With a smile Kafei stroked over Link’s face, bent down collecting and pressed him the whole mass of clothes into the arms. Then he ran stark naked along the path. Before he could get out of sight, he turned around and meant Link to follow him. Link crammed everything into the locket and went after him. It took a while of getting used to. After all it didn’t happen every day that a Link ran around a mountain lake naked. He hadn’t felt uneven ground beneath his bare feet for a long time. The cool air didn’t bother him though, as he had been to much colder regions before. The opposite, it was quite pleasant.
Kafei vanished from his sight. When Link reached the spot he was pulled backwards off the path and landed next to Kafei in the bushes with a wild rustle, who pressed him something into the mouth. It tasted sweet. Berries. Juicy, sweet, delicious berries. Exactly what his hungry stomach had needed now. Delightfully he chewed, swallowed and let himself be fed on. The bushes between which they laid were red of berries and the two of them soon as well, as Kafei cared less about putting them into Link’s mouth than spreading them on the rest of his body. Link couldn’t help but taking revenge. Wildly giggling and half sitting, half leaning, they daubed the sweet juice on each other.
“And you’re sure that they’re not poisonous?”
“The only poison here is you.”, breathed Kafei.
Lost in thought he ate a still intact berry before Link took his right arm and licked along its inner side with closed eyes, whereas he especially intensively dedicated to the palm and the long fingers. Kafei only watched him. When Link wouldn’t stop, he laid the hand on the latter’s cheek. Link pressed it closer and downright laid his head into it. Kafei played around Link’s mouth with the thumb and brought in his own mouth.
Carefully he pushed Link down on the mossy ground and laid himself down slightly beside, but still on him. Then he separated their hands from Link’s face and put down those of the other as well so he could let his own free hand glide over Link’s body. He moved it softly and seductively closer to his hips. There his hand lingered and he loosened the kiss. Link opened his eyes and they just looked each other deeply in their pure colours. Kafei moved his hand back up to Link’s chest and opened the locket. Link only nodded when he saw the bottle in the hand of his love and closed the locket.
Thoughtfully slow they mutually rubbed Alga-Extract onto each other and adjusted. Kafei placed another soft kiss on Link’s lips and Link almost silently threw his head back when Kafei went deeply into him. They weren’t sure whether the roaring of the waterfalls was able to drown their noises. Also they didn’t bother. And if there had been coming hundreds of people up there in these minutes, it wouldn’t have mattered to them. All that counted were they and their love for each other. All that counted in these moments was that they could live and enjoy this love to the fullest. This most divine feeling of all.
~o~0~O~0~o~
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